There was a bit of confusion in the ballet class the previous week over chassés; even when given the name of a chassé dancers weren’t sure which direction they were going in. So this week we looked at the directions/instructions given in the names of some of the chassés (ouvert, croisé, en avant, en arierre) and lots more dance terms besides; both ballet and tap.

Here are the dance terms that you were given:

• Derierre
• En arierre
• Double beat
• Sharp rhythm
• Croisé
• Devant
• Ouvert
• Scuff
• Treble beat
• Single beat
• Pick-up step
• En l’air
• Exercises
• En avant
• A terre
• Flat rhythm
• Drop

And here are the meanings (not in the same order):

• Even
• To loosen and strengthen the joints
• A beat with three sounds
• Has a pause the length of the beat between each beat
• To the front
• Crossed
• A beat with one sound
• In the air
• A stamp carried forward
• A beat with two sounds
• On the ground
• Behind
• A Pick-up and a step
• To the back
• In the form of a cross
• Open
• In front

You got them all correct in class and found the one term and the one meaning that don’t match and I just threw in there to confuse you, but can you remember all the answers now?